The event will take place at Tower Mill, Hawick, and all creative arts businesses in the region are invited to attend.

The scheme, run by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) arts development, in partnership with the Scottish Arts Council, aims to replicate similar projects run by other local authorities in Scotland which have made a significant impact on the creative development of artists’ and craft makers’ work.

The scheme will be administered by a new project in the Borders – Creative Arts Business Network (CABN) – which is funded by arts development and Leader (part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme).

Mary Morrison, project manager of CABN, said: “This awards scheme is a first for the Scottish Borders, and is aimed at giving visual artists and makers an opportunity to develop their creative practice.

“The application process is very straightforward, and grants are available from £75 to £1,000.”

Grants can be awarded towards research and development costs for a new project, travel and subsistence costs to enable attendance at symposiums and master classes, costs of preparing exhibitions, advancing skills and developing ideas and purchase of equipment and time in the studio to work on a new project.

There will be two funding events in 2009 and 2010, with the first deadline September 4, and the second early in 2010.

The launch event tomorrow will run from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, with a networking drinks reception until 6.30pm, and aims to be inspiring and informative.

Although the focus of the awards is visual, artists, craft makers and practitioners in other art forms are also welcome.

Anyone wishing to attend the event, or looking for more information on CABN and the new awards scheme, should contact Mary at: mmorrison@scotborders.gov.uk Tel: 01450 360 689 mobile: 07789 944993.